Week of 4/8/12 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Vickie with Pat & Terry in the Old West Pavilion

 Tennis players, do you have used tennis balls you no long use? Many Desert Haven dogs love to fetch and our dog walkers enjoy the exercise too. Vickie is one of DHAR’s “oldest” residents and she beats everyone at “Fetch”! Just watching her run after the tennis balls is a real pleasure! This little girl-dog does not let her age stand in the way! Vicky was one of several dozens of dogs of all sizes and ages literally dumped in the desert around Cuchillo in the middle of summer some years ago. Their owner was a hoarder. Unsterilized and uncared for, they reproduced at will and created a growing health and noise problem in the otherwise peaceful country neighborhood. When their owner was tipped-off by a whistle-blower that he was about to receive a visit from the Sheriff’s Department, he chose to get rid of the problem his own way.

Less than a handful of dogs survived the ordeal and made it back to Cuchillo several days later. Vickie was one of them. Desert Haven rescued her and nursed her back to health. She is now the “Top Dog “ at Dogtown”. Vickie loves to fetch tennis balls.

 Deanna of Wyoming was recently chosen out of several applicants by the SCHS Board of Directors to fill the part-time position of On-Site Manager at DHAR. A nurse by trade and life-long animal welfare activist, Deanna recently made a life-changing decision that is bringing her to the sanctuary within the next few weeks. She will manage the sanctuary with the help of Linda, DHAR Animal Care Coordinator, and the new DHAR Caretaker – a part-time position not yet filled. These are exciting times for the Sierra County Humane Society and Desert Haven. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step indeed….. Desert Haven’s storage of alfalfa, bird seeds and cracked corn for the residents of Birdland & Animal House is depleted. Walmart, together with several local businesses and some wonderful local and out-of-town folks, help keep us stocked with the food we need in Dog Town and the Cool Cat Neighborhood. Please let us know if you wish to help us feed our rescued doves, peacocks, guinea pigs, rabbits and fowl. Two full breed Basset Hounds with papers need a new home. If interested, contact 575-740-3369. Volunteer opportunities are available at Paws & Claws and Desert Haven. Contact us at 575-894-2639 or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit us at: http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge. and http://www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. Our 501-C-3 non-profit Sierra County Humane Society mailing address is, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 4/1/12 Humane Happenings

This past Tuesday, several officers of the Sierra County Humane Society Board of Directors spent the day at Desert Haven Animal Refuge, getting involved with animal care and adoption, greeting visitors and the volunteers who had specifically come to help out with animal care, also folks who came to drop-off pet food, treats and toys for the furry residents. It was a very interesting day and also a very busy one.

At the Tuesday staff meeting

 Welcome to Desert Haven, Linda Johnson. Linda is the newest DHAR Team member as she is taking over the Animal Care Coordinator position at the sanctuary. A former resident of California with excellent references and a passion for all animals and the environment, this energetic and versatile lady promises to be a real asset to our non-profit animal welfare organization and the no-kill domestic animal sanctuary that it owns and operates.

 Maxwell was adopted during the 75% off Adoption Blitz this past week. We love all our fur-kids as our own at Desert Haven. Of course, as the years go by, this one or that one may pull a string closest to our hearts, especially one like Maxwell who has called DHAR “Home” since puppyhood, when he was found, together with a sibling, wandering on a bicycle trail near the edge of the Rio Grande. They were starving and also in very poor health. Now a large, healthy and very handsome boy-dog, Maxwell is also well-mannered and a real charmer. We are all very happy for him and trust that his new home is truly a “Forever Home” for him. Maxwell deserves it so.

This week, we wish to thank Glen Parks and Clifford Downey for spending many hours over several days repairing the damages caused by the recent high winds on the cabana top that is used as sorting area at P&C Thrift Shoppe. Also a huge thank you is in order for Nolla, Glen’s better half, for handling the cash register and helping the customers during that time.

 This week’s wish list: Alfalfa, bird seeds and cracked corn for the residents of Birdland & Animal House. Our storage is depleted. Desert Haven has an account at Horsing Around Feed Store in T or C. If you wish to help us feed our little rescues, please drop by or send your contributions directly to the Feed Store, to be deposited into our Desert Haven account.

Volunteer opportunities are available at Paws & Claws and Desert Haven. Contact us at 575-894-1694 or 575-894-2639, or e-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. Visit our web site and Facebook page at: http://www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge. and http://www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. Our 501-C-3 nonprofit Sierra County Humane Society mailing address is, POB 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.

Week of 3/25/12 Humane Happenings

by Eliana Aubin

Blue with new parents, Karen & Leon Hinkle

 Desert Haven Animal Refuge is a no-kill sanctuary for Sierra County companion animals who have been abused or discarded, and also those from folks who no longer can take care of them. The dogs and cats rescued at DHAR very often need special attention, including routine and often emergency - and costly - veterinary care, which they receive on arrival. These little ones are then ready to move on to a new life. Adoption fees at Desert Haven are carefully decided on by the Sierra County Humane Society Board of Directors. Many things have to be taken into account in this decision making - the current economy, availability of the right type of loving home, but also and as importantly, the long-term viability of Desert Haven.

 Most people don’t know that normal adoption fees at DHAR don’t even cover half the expenses of sterilizing and vaccinating the dogs and cats as we take them in and give them a home for life or until adoption. Also these adoption fees don’t even touch the operating costs of Desert Haven, costs of feeding, of housing and caring for these animals, which include routine and emergency veterinary care. Those of us who share our lives with our beloved companions realize the costs of having them.

 We at Desert Haven could not do what we do and offer our routinely subsidized adoption fees without the generous financial support of animal loving folks from all over who believe in what we do for the little ones down-on-their-luck.

 During its first Annual Springtime Adoption Blitz last week, the Sierra County Humane Society adopted out dogs and cats at 75% off regular fees - a huge savings for adopting families, also a heavy financial burden on our organization. To give more dogs and cats a chance at adoption, our Board decided to continue the adoption special during the entire month of April, this time at 50% off regular fees. Adoptions will take place onTuesdays between the hours of 9 AM to 5PM.

 This past week, our P&C Thrift Shoppe crew worked very hard, sorting through a large number of boxes and bags of craft and sewing items, assorted remnants of material, some of it obviously vintage. The craft items, etc. are now tagged and priced and displayed for sale inside the store. Volunteer opportunities continue to be available at Paws & Claws and Desert Haven.

Contact us at 575-894-1694 or 575-894-2639. E-mail us at weR4pets@gmail.com. Check us out at www.DesertHavenAnimalRefuge, at www.Facebook.com/deserthaven. Our 501-C-3 nonprofit Sierra County Humane Society mailing address is, Post Office Box 638, Williamsburg, NM 87942.